Spectacle case and insert therefor



April v2O, 1943. M. B. ROTH 2,317,302

. SPECTACLE CASE ANI.) INSERT THEREFOR I Finding. 23, 1941 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE SPECTACLE CASE AND nvsER'r THEREFOR Morris B. Roth, chicago, v111. Application August 23, 1941, serial No. 408,041

(ci. s-5) 3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in spectacle cases and more particularly to means to reinforce such cases and prevent breaking of spectacles contained therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a ilexible spectacle case or container with a novelly constructed insert to reinforce said case against flexing and consequently protect spectacles therein against breakage.

Another Objectis to provide a spectacle case with novelly constructed reinforcing means to prevent shifting of spectacles contained therein.

Another object is to provide a novel one-piece spectacle case insert which is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be easily and quickly arranged and retained in place.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specication, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spectacle case embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the spectacle case, partly broken away, showing the insert mounted therein and supporting a pair of spectacles.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, omitting the spectacles.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the insert.

The invention is particularly adapted to be embodied in a spectacle case or container substantially of the type illustrated, which consists of an elongated substantially flat bag-like structure I I formed of ilexible sheet material usually having upwardly inwardly inclined ends I2 and a flap I3 along its upper open edge adapted to be folded downwardly to close the container. It should be understood however that other types of cases, similar in all respects to the one illustrated but having parallel ends, may be used. The iiap may be retained in its closed position by co-acting snap-fastener elements I4 and I5. Cases of this character obviously do not afford adequate protection to spectacles contained therein, should the case be subjected to bending, twisting or other forms of distortion. Accordingly, the invention is concerned primarily with the novel construction of an insert I 6 adapted to be arranged therein.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the insert I6 consists of an elongated rigid body having a projection I1 extending upwardly from its top face substantially midway between its ends. The top faces of the body portions on either side of the centrally located projection I'I are suitably, channelled, as at I8, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The outside bottom margin I9 and end margins 2| of the body portion sides preferably are inclined inwardly toward each other as the respective edges are approached to minimize the body thickness at said edges so that it conforms substantially to the interior contour of the container `I I.

Referring now to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrations, the insert I6 is arranged within the inside lower edge portion of the container so as to dispose its projection II and channels I8` upwardly for cooperative association with a pair of spectacles 22. Inadvertent displacement or removal of the insert may be prevented by inclining the opposite ends of the insert outwarly upwardly so as to present relatively sharp corners at the ends of its upper face, or clearly dei-ined detent projections 23 may be formed on each end, for interengagement with the ends of the container. In either event, the overall length of the insert preferably is slightly greater than the inside length of the container so that, when the former is in place the latter is tensioned very slightly. Of course, inserts specifically designed for use in containers of the character illustrated, wherein the container ends are inclined, need not necessarily have the outwardly inclined ends or the end projections hereinbefore mentioned because in such instance, the gradual decrease in the length of the container as the open side is approached effectively prevents displacement. It may be desirable, but not essential, to adhesively secure the back face of the insert I6 to the rear container wall so that said insert always remains in contact therewith to facilitate the easy and quick insertion of the spectacles.

When the container is in the open position illustrated in Fig. 3, its front wall IIa bows naturally outwardly away from the front face of the insert thus affording, as illustrated in Fig. 2, suicient space to freely receive the end portions of the spectacle bows 22a. The central projection I'I of the insert is of such size and shape as to extend between and receive thereover the usual nose pads 22h of the spectacles to retain said spectacles against shifting within the container; and the channels I8 freely receive the lower margins of the lenses.

Both side walls I8a of each channel I8 are recessed or notched, as at 24, adjacent their juncture with the central projection I1 to provide adequate clearance for the spectacle nose pads 22h. Although notches 24 necessarily need be provided in but one wall of each channel portion, it is preferred that both Walls be notched as shown so as to adapt the insert for ready insertion without pre-determination of which side is to be placed against the rear Wall of the container.

It should be evident at this time that the instant structure, and particularly the central projection I1 of the insert, aords adequate back ing for the co-acting fastener elements I4 and I5 when the two are momentarily placed under pressure to facilitate their inter-engagement. As a result, spectacles carried -within the container are not subjected to the possibility of v being crushed or broken While fastening the ilap closed.

As previously noted, the insert I6 is intended to reinforce the exible container and consequently prevent breakage of the contents thereof,. hence it may be made of any suitable shaperetaining material such as for example metal, Wood or a composition. In this instance it preferably is molded of a suitable plastic which is easily and inexpensively shaped, preferably by the injection method, and4 has` the. particular advantage of having a highly polished surface and consequently less subject to the accumula,-

tion of foreign matter and more easily cleaned,

It should be apparent also that the insertl may be placed Within the container at the time of manu'- facture or distribution or be marketed as an independent accessory readily insertable, bythe purchaser.

Although the present disclosure illustrates spectacles of the type having rims,` the device obviously is `equally `applicable to 'accommodate any type of spectacle or' eyeglass and it should be understood that various modifications Ymay be made in the detailed structure without` departing from the spirit of the invention or ,the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spectacle case comprising, a substantially ilat container of flexible material, a one-piece elongated frame of rigid material arranged in and occupying the bottom portion of the container, said frame including a centrally located enlargement extending upwardly above the tcp plane of the frame to be embraced by the nose pads of a pair of spectacles when the latter are placed in said container and shallow longitudinal channels one on each side of said enlargement open along their upper extent to receive the margins of the spectacle lenses to prevent their being crushed, and the ends of said frame terminating in relatively sharp edges to frictionally engage the inside face of the container ends to retain the frame in place.

2. A spectacle case comprising, a substantially flat container of flexible material, and a onekpie-ce elongated frame of rigid material arranged in and occupying the bottom portion of the container, said frame including a centrally located enlargement to be embraced by the nose Dads of a pair of spectacles when the latter are placed in said container and longitudinal channels open along their upper extent to receive the margins of the spectacle lenses to prevent their being crushed,- said channels varying in depth to conform substantially to the contour of `said lens and terminating short of the respective ends of the fra-me.

3. AV one-piece elongated frame, adapted for insertion into a spectacle case to reinforceathe latter, comprising 4a centrallyv located enlargement extending upwardly above." the top planeof the frame to be embraced. by the nose: pads` of a v pair of spectacles when the, latterare placedin the case and shallow longitudinal channelsone on each sidelf saldi enlargement open alongV .their upper extent. to receive the margins of .the spectacle lenses to prevent 'their being crushed, `and the ends of vsaid frame terminatingfin. relatively sharp edges to frictionally engage Atheinsidei'acie of the case ends when the.frameiswinplace therein. j L I MORRIS. B. ROTH.` 

